Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson breaks through the line against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second quarter in Week 12 action. / Andrew Weber, US Presswire

by Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports

by Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports

CLEVELAND â?? After committing eight turnovers, it would seem nothing worse could have happened to the Pittsburgh Steelers offense at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday. Not so, argued starting left tackle Max Starks.

"A natural disaster. The (scene in the) Batman movie where the field is just dropping out from under you," he continued. "The Birds, Alfred Hitchcock style. Bigfoot coming out on the field. Aliens coming from outer space and taking over the Earth while we're playing a football game."

While all of those situations seem rather unfathomable, so would have the team's massive offensive tailspin just three weeks ago, one that hit its nadir with the Steelers' 20-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns (3-8).

In the ten quarters since losing starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a shoulder and rib injury in Week 10 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, the Steelers (6-5) have failed to throw a touchdown pass. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley tried to simplify the team's play calling against Cleveland for 37-year-old, third-string quarterback Charlie Batch by increasing the team's reliance on screen passes and the running game. The adjustment resulted in eight fumbles by the offense (five lost) and three interceptions by Batch, who completed 20 of 34 passes for 199 yards.

With the Steelers now tied with the streaking Cincinnati Bengals (6-5) for the AFC's second wild-card spot, a return to form against the AFC North leading Baltimore Ravens (9-2) in Week 13 is absolutely crucial. But that resurrection seems unlikely unless Pittsburgh can find a way to get their franchise quarterback under center.

Neither Steelers coach Mike Tomlin nor Roethlisberger, who no longer has his right arm in a sling, would commit on whether the franchise's all-time passing leader would be ready for next week's key rematch. Asked after the game to assess Batch's performance, Tomlin offered a concise response.

"Not good enough."

It's a sentiment that could be applied to the entire offense, as the Steelers became the first team to commit eight turnovers in a game since the St. Louis Rams in 2001. Each of the team's four running backs fumbled at least once, with rookie Chris Rainey losing the ball on first and 10 at the Pittsburgh 26 with slightly over two minutes to play.

"I feel like I lost the game," Rainey said. "We had one more chance to go downthere and win the game and I fumbled."

That Rainey, primarily used as a kickoff returner and third down specialist prior to this week, was even getting carries in crunch time spoke to the disarray of the team's running game, with Tomlin rotating Rainey in after Rashard Mendenhall, Jonathan Dwyer and Issac Redman all coughed the ball up earlier in the contest.

"They were fumbling that ball," Tomlin said. "So we are going to play people that can secure the football, but after everybody does it, obviously there aren't very many choices left."

The same could be said for Pittsburgh's offensive line, who took the field without starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert and left guard Willie Colon, who was a game-time scratch due to a lingering knee injury. After Gilbert's replacement Mike Adams injured his ankle in the third quarter, backup guard Kelvin Beachum was inserted at right tackle, where his holding penalty on the next play would negate a 33-yard pass from Batch to tight end Heath Miller. The Steelers' offense committed nine penalties on the day for 62 yards.

Plaxico Burress' heralded return to the Steelers provided the team with a small boost late in the second quarter, as the 6-5 wideout drew a pass interference call on Browns' safety Sheldon Brown to set up the team's only offensive touchdown, a 1-yard Rainey run. Brown would exact revenge the only other time Batch targeted Burress, picking off an underthrown pass at the Pittsburgh 31-yard-line with 7:10 left in the third quarter.

The Browns, who would lose starting quarterback Brandon Weeden with a concussion late in the fourth quarter, took advantage of the Steelers' multiple miscues, as 17 of Cleveland's 20 points came on drives directly after Steelers turnovers.

Despite registering a Lawrence Timmons interception return for a touchdown and getting to Weeden for four sacks, Pittsburgh's defensive starters showed no evidence of locker room discord, with several team leaders on that side of the ball reiterating their support for Batch.

"It's not shaking my confidence," linebacker James Harrison said. "My teammates are just as strong minded as me. I don't believe it will shake their confidence. We have to do a better job of stopping them when the ball is turned over in the red zone and keeping them to three's, not letting them get six."